Convertible suction cleaner with agitator drive disengaging means



May 12, 1953 H. B. WHITE 2,537,874

- CONVERTIBLE SUCTION CLEANER WITH AGITATOR DRIVE DISENGAGING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1949 INVENTOR. Harzyfi. Wlu'le BY May 12, 1953 H. B. WHITE 2,637,874

CONVERTIBLE SUCTION CLEANER WITH AGITATOR DRIVE DISENGAGING MEANS Filed Sept. 8, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Harry B. While May 12, 1953 H. B. WHITE 2,637,374

CONVERTIBLE SUCTION CLEANER WITH AGITATOR DRIVE DISENGAGING MEANS Filed Sept. 8. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIJIII.

E M g a g) g. 8, V I w I l INVENTOR. HarryflWhiie May 12, 1953 H. B. WHITE 2,637,374

CONVERTIBLE SUCTION CLEANER WITH AGITATOR DRIVE DISENGAGING MEANS Filed Sept. 8, 1949 4 sheets sheet 4 1 INVENTOR. Harry B. White BY Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED ES F 2,637,874 ONVE TI HELSUGTIoNi AGITAT OR DRIVEDISENG'AGING-MEAN S Harry'B. White, Carlton, Ohio, assig'i lor tii 'fihe Hoover Company, North canton; Olii'iiini c'or poration of Ohio Ap lication-September s, wlslse'risl' Nt. 114,471)" o1.- l e-s32") 22' Claims. 1:

present invention :elates to suction clean ersandr'nore om loularljrto a newanddmniovedmechanismi ooi'lverting such cleanerto-dustihg'tbol opel'atlbll- Numerous attempts have been made to' 0on struct satisfactory suction olean'ei' having effective mechanism for converting it' to dustin tool operation particularly with respect to cleaners having belt-driven agitators. Desinable butheretofore unattainedobjeetives' include a simple", lowc'ost; easily operated; conveniently accessible means for converting fromthe ton; forward -por tion of the cleaner, for disconnecting the agitator drive anc'tfor utilizi-ng aportlonof the combinedbelt andsuct'ion airpass'aga eway a's-the dusting tool passagewaywith'outappreciable air leak-- age around the belt and" converter tooli Pilot constructions,- cl'e's' gneo". to meet these rigorous reqnlrements 'are subject to numerous short corn ings an'olhave not enjoy'eel' commereial successL- An object of the present invention'is'to provide an: improved suetion cleane? having simple; ef fective; easily operated and highly efli-cient conversion mechanism;

Another object of" the inventionis to provide an improved belt disconnect operable in unisonwith the convei'tencover.

A further and important obj eet is arrall'ge ment for convertinginto a com air and belt assageway-anna s? fective, substantially"lealc proof seal betweenthe belt the: converter tool atncl 'the air imesage.

Still another object is a unique beltdiscone' nectconstructed on a'readilyremovables cover" which, when in plaee is operably coupled; tot-a remote control conveniently located for access from above the cleaner body.

Yet another object is the provision 0f a n'ov'el converter mechanism operable from the top, 01 ward portion of-a cleaner.

Further objects'an'tl, advantages offthe-inverf Figure 3 is a view showing the position of partswhen the converter is attached fonofi the-floor cleaning;

Figure 4 is a perspective; View 0t the-beltadisconnecting element; a

meme 6- is an exploded View of the cleaner With-the 'pulleyco'vei plate removed, anol Figurejisa 'top fiagmentary View of the-con: verter p'o'rt' co'v'eii construction. I w

application is a continuation-impartof anplica'n'ts{application for' Letters Patent; Serial Wpiovideuwitli a nozzle |ljmtei'ionyconnectedthrough a combined belt ari'dstict'ioii aii passage way {2 with a an chambelj l exhau'sting fearwax-my into a filtei' bag" at: riie upper end of bag" 15- is att'aohew to a handle I a pivot'any connected to the upper, rear corner of the nean'er' may: A hood [1- enclosesari electric motor position'ellabove faincliariibei l' landthe lower end" o'f its shaft caliie's" a fan" Hi and a p'uuey w ld-' cated in-ail passageway I 2':

agitator an is rotatablv m'oumew m the" I 91 Passageway I? to the fan chan'l bel vetti'al sid e" walls' 2-2 e i i'terids f-i'orfithe nozzle li l and comprises 1 generally is' eneagable*\vitli'-'a-Well known form" of came 'l l-i-' clean-en boblv'issitbbbitecl on time d 26, respectively; the front-"- a thanth rear" justment with the" surface being cleaned" in ac cordance' with known nozzle adjustment prim" cipl'es.

The mechanism for converting the cl'ea' n'ei 'to" dusting tool use incmae xas major elements, a belt disconnect built into removable cover plate 23,1 ari'd an? operating. means therefor supported. on"th'e. cleane'r body and including the converter port covenlocatedonthe top sideot suction n'ozzle. II l..'v

Tries belt dis'con n'eot comprisesa diski at jour- 'i e ernbotfi'ment of invention herein (1 closet? comprises a suction clea'fier havin g a b'od'yf lie-"cement alone? passageway 12' to pulley cured to disk 35 on the bottom side of cover 23 is a gear wheel 33 which meshes with a driving toothed sector 34 journaled at 34a to cover 23. A spring biased keeper 35 carried on cover 23 coperates with spaced Openings 36 in sector 34 to hold the sector in one or the other of its two stationary positions. An appearance cover 31 encloses the gears and protects them from entry of foreign matter.

The operating mechanism for the belt disconnect comprises a depending bracket 42 secured to the under side of fan chamber [4. Horizontally disposed, arcuately slotted flange M of this bracket carries a vertically arranged coupling pin 40. The lower end of pin 45 fits into an opening 45 on arm 38 of sector 34 while its upper end is hinged to a power transmitting link 46. The lower end of pin 40 is conically formed to facilitate its assembly to sector arm 38 during replacement of pulley cover plate 23. i

The converter facilities proper will be best understood by reference to Figures 1, 3 and 7. Centrally located on the top side of nozzle ll immediately forward of the motor hood is a converter opening ll. This opening is normally closed by a cover 48 supported at its rear edge by an L-shaped hinge rod 49 and keeper clips 55. The cover may be welded or otherwise secured to rod 59 so that a torsion spring acting between the rod and the cleaner serves to urge the cover closed against the gasket surrounding port 41. The other end 52 of rod 49 projects downwardly at one side of the fan chamber and is pivotally coupled to the forward end of link 46.

7 An open ended rectangular casing 53 has its upper end in alignment with converter port 41. Its lower end is in communication with suction air passageway l2 and is secured to the fan casing as by a rivet 54. A rectangular converter tool 55 is formed to fit within casing 53 rather snugly and so that its sides fit against vertical walls 22 of passageway 62 in an airtight manner. The lower, forward face of the converter is cut away at 56 to provide for free flow of air through the converter and into the fan inlet. The lower end of the converter, however, is shaped as indicated at 5'! in Figure 5 to receive the upper cross-sectional half of the belt runs and to cooperate with similarly shaped notches 58 in the inner face of cover 23 and the bottom wall of passage 12 to prevent any air flow from nozzlc II to the fan during conversion. Converter 55 is locked in this airtight position by a spring latch 59 mounted on the converter and engageable with a notch 68 in casing 53. The upper end of the converter is, of course, adapted to receive the usual flexible hose and dusting tool accessories.

. Operation "During use of the cleaner for on-the-floor operation, the parts are disposed as shown in Figure 1 with the belt on the motor pulley. Cover 48 is closed thereby confining the suction air stream to nozzle l l, passage l2, the fan chamber and the filter bag. It will be noted that finger 32 is then located on the forward side of the pulley and out of contact with the belt.

If it is desired to replace the belt or to gain access to it for any reason, it is merely necessary to unlatch catch 24 and remove cover 23 along with the belt disconnect mechanism carried thereon since pin 46 and link 36 remain supported by bracket 42. Replacement of cover is accomplished merely by inserting lugs 23a over the rear nozzle lip and pivoting the rear end of the cover into closed position. The belt disconnect is held against displacement while the cover is off by engagement of keeper 35 in one of the holes 36 in sector 34.

Conversion to ofi-the-floor operation is accomplished very easily. The operator first lifts converter cover 48 to the position shown in Figure 3. In so doing, rod 49 is pivoted counterclockwise rotating the belt disconnect to lift the belt free of pulley l9. This will best be understood by reference to Figures 1 to 3. As link 46 is moved horizontally forward, sector 34 and pinion 33 are rotated to swing finger 32 and groove 3| about 180 to the position shown in Figure 3 wherein the belt is seen to be supported entirely free of pulley I9. Insertion of converter 55 into casing 53 causes the belt runs to be depressed into notches 51, 5'! as catch 59 engages notch 60 to lock the converter in place. In this position, the nozzle is sealed from the rear portion of passage l2 by the firm seating of the bottom and sides of the converter against the belt and the adjacent walls of passage [2. The usual hose and dusting tools may now be attached to the converter for off-the-floor cleaning, the air flow being confined to the hose, converter, rear end of passage [2, the fan and the filter. It is to be observed, as clearly shown in Figure 3, that while the converter is in place, it blocks closing of cover 48 and restoration of driving belt H to pulley [9. Thus, cover 48, and the links connecting it to the belt disconnect constitute a simple, yet positive safety inter-lock effectively preventing operation of the invention in an improper sequence.

Reconversion is equally as simple and convenient, it merely being necessary for the operator to withdraw converter '55 and close cover 48. As is self-evident from the foregoing, this operation rotates the parts in the reverse direction to return the belt to the pulley and the parts to the position shown in Figure 1.

It will be readily apparent that the simple structure described above is characterized by ruggedness, positiveness, convenience, high efficiency, ease of operation and marked improvement structurally and functionally over constructions heretofore available. I

Obviously, the principles of the invention ar obtained in many variations of the structure hereinabove described as illustrative of a working embodiment of the invention and it is to be understood that such variations are comprehended within the scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a suction cleaner of the type having a suction nozzle extending crosswise of the cleaner body, a motor-driven fan supported rearwardly of said nozzle, an agitator in said nozzle, a belt interconnecting said agitator and motor-driven fan, means forming a suction air passageway and a belt tunnel between said fan and said nozzle, and belt drive disconnecting means permanently carried by said cleaner for discontinuing the operation of said agitator during off-the-fioor cleaning; of normally covered port means in the upper portion of said nozzle communicating with said air acssgsm air passageway means to seal said nozzle from: said fan when said converter is seated in said porttmeana;

zrTh'ei-combinationrecited in claim: 1 charac terizedrin that said 1 converter'is f ormed to engage saidbeltaagainsti a portion of saidairi passageway." means: to-preventzair leakge 'therearound'viasaid nozzle during; off the-fioorcleaning;

32- The combination" recited in claim- 2. charac, tenized inzthatzsaidt converter is insertable down'-= wardly through saidi'rp'ort means onto 'the runs of:- the belt% to depress thedisengagedi belt against the bottoms of said. air passageway means; and. means forrlockingisaidiconvertenin. place ag ainst said: depressed belt;

42. Imcombinationwitha suctionicleanerr or the typei'h'aving a: suctionvnozzlei' extending: crosswise: ofthe cleaner-body, amotor-drivenifanzsupported rearwardly ofisaidlnozzie; an agitator: in said-noz- 21s; a belt interconnecting said: agitator." and." motor driven fan, means forming. a siictionz. a'ir passageway" and abelttunnel between said an:

and; said; nozzle, and belt drive: disconnecting means forrdiscontinuing thooper'ation of 'sa'idagi tator during off-the-floor cleaning; of normally 1 coverediconverter portlmea'ns in the-top wall of sa-idnozzle in communication with said a-ir'passageway means at apoint'intermediate the ends of saidfi belt when disconnected, and a converter toolnormally separatedjnfrom saidcleaneri'bu't in'sertable through said port means toconvert said cleaner tozofi' the-floor operation, said converter;when;inserted-cooperating with said air passagewayvandtsaid.beltito seal said nozzle effectively from said fan": whereby the suction air 1? stream is constraineditotfiow through said converterrtbssaid fan;

5: Dhe combinationwdefined in:claim 4 characterize'dlby the provision ofimeans associated with saidibeltdrivedisconnecting means and operable totl-preventrrestoration ofisaidb elt drive while said converter: deviceiis in place on said cleaner.

fiii'lihe"combinationwith a suction cleaner of theitypewhaving-ia suction nozzle extendingicrosswise: thereof,. a verticall axis. motor-fan unit mountedirearwardly thereof; means providing an: air passage: and. a: belt tunnelv between said fan-- andzzsaid nozzle, iani agitator insaid nozzle, I a' belt inlsaid passage interconnecting saidta'git'ator and said'unit'; of means located" onxsaidnozzle operablestorreceive a converter; device to convert said cleaner to ofi-the-floor operation, meansfor disconnecting saida belt! for ofiethe-floorf cleaning, manuali'means for: operatingfsaid ibelt disconnect independently of: saidil converter, said manual meansvb'eing fixed toxsaid: cleaner and said belt disconnecting means? being readily detachable fromisaid cleaner and fromsaid manuaI meansas a unitary; assembly to facilitate inspection and servicing of. said cleaner 7; The combination. defined in claimi6 characterized in that saidbelt disconnectingtmeans ine cludesacover plate for 'the driven end'of said belt.

8-.-. The: combination defined in claim 7 charac'-- terizedin-that said cover plate forms substantially; almajor, bottom portion. of saidairpassage: whereby removal of said cover exposes the full length of said belt for'servicing and replacement,

9; Inia suctionoleaner, a cleaner body, a noz: leat the, forwardendlof said body, a suction creat ing. fan,,a suction-air passageway between said fanand nozzle, a motor for drivingsaid fan, an agitator in said nozzle, a relatively flexible belt inlsaidiair passageway between saidmotor and: agitatontdoperate:the;1atter,,a port in said body above said: nozzle:- and: connected tdsai'da air: pasisageway; for receiving'iaiconverterelementto conevert th'ecleaner for off=the=-floor cleaning, ascoverl movable for closing; and? opening; said port}. belt shiftinam'eans connected-ltousaid cover and: actu ated upon movement'- ofsaid cover to its: open position to remove said belt from said: motor to render/ saidi agitator inoperative:in".said v nozzle;v a; converter element. insertableathrough said opened port. and engage'able :with saidibelt to depress: the: latter: against a: wall: of said air passageway and cut:- off-f communication between said nozzleand: fan'.

10: In? a: suction cleaner; alclea'ne'n bodypazno'zw zle at the forward end of said body, asueti'on creating. fan, a suction air." passageway between saidifan and: nozzle; I anmotor forrdiivingrsaid'i ra an ag itat'e'r movably' mounted imsaidr nozzle;. a:- belt' in; said suctionz air: passageway between saidi mot-hr andiagitator'to op'eratestneir latter, apart? in; Selidi bodyabove said nozzle: and connected te said suction air assageway for: receiviiig alcen verter'elernent toico'nvertl the cleaner'fo'r ofi3-the--- floor cleaning", a: cover 'fors'aid porti and movable mounted on said body,- belt shifting means cone" nected to' said: cover and i movable: into'= engage ment with said belt toremove the. latten'from said motor to rend'ers'aid agitator. non-movable: iipori. movement" of said; coverto open positionwith res'p'ect 'to saidpo'rt and aicoriverter eIementt in ser-ta'ble through i s'aid opened port into said sii'o' tion air passageway and havin'g: means te receive said belt -to out off communication between said nozzle: and fan.

11; A converterelement-for a suction cleaner of the type 'liavinganozzle'; an agitator" in the" nozzle, a suction creatin'g fan, -a"-m'0tor fordr-ivi'n'g the fan, an air passageway" between the fan and nozzle, aport in the air' passageway forreceiving tlie-converter'element, a resilient" belt' in the air passageway connecting the motor and agitator; recess'means-in theair passageway to' receive tfie belt therein when the belt is clisplaced from its normal position" by the converter element} said converter element comprising aconduit having anopening for 'conne'ctionwith saidianwh'en the" converter element is insertedthrough said portiinto said airpassa-geway, and meanson said con duit for receiving the belt to displacethe' latter into-said recess means-"to en'clbse' saidibelt when said" converter element is" in position said" air passageway.

12. A" fioor' type vacuum cleaner comprisin'gfan electric motor" having" a vertical shaft, a fan chamber arranged below said motor and having,

a fan connected to saidsaft' to be drivenv there.- by, said fanchamber being provided with an air inlet on the under. side thereof; anozzle having a downwardly presentedmouth, and an agi-- tator operatively associated therewith a communication forming an:air passagewaybetween saidv nozzle: and said fan inlet for inducing? at flow of air. into said nozzle duringsoperatiom of: said fan; saidshaft: extending through said fan" inlet? into? said communication; a1. belt arranged in: driving? relati'onsliip with said" shaft and: ag-itater." for actuating: the-'- latter diiring' operationof said: fan: and: extending. through said com munication, belt shifting: means operableto engage with the belt? adj acent' s'a'id shaft for lift ing. the;v belt out of: driving relationship there with: and upon a. subsequent operation to release saidz belt so f as to re-engag'e the latter with said: shaft said; communication being provided" with an upwardly facing normally closed converter port which is arranged between said shaft and agitator, a detachable converter coupling comprising a hollow air conducting member adapted to be inserted through said port, when open, and tobe seated in said passageway, said member being shaped to fit said passageway and to cooperate with the walls thereof to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet, said coupling having provisions for accommodating said belt, a cover for closing said port, anda positive connection between said cover and belt shifting means for operating the latter by movement of said cover which opens and closes said port.

13. A floor type vacuum cleaner comprising an electric motor having a vertical shaft, a fan chamber arranged below said motor and having a fan connected to said shaft to be driven thereby, said fan chamber being provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof, a nozzle having a downwardly presented mouth, and an agitator operatively associated therewith, a communication forming an air passageway between said nozzle and said fan inlet for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle during operation of said fan, said shaft extending through said fan inlet into said communication, a belt arranged in driving relationship with said shaft and agitator for actuating the latter during operation of said fan and extending through said communication, belt shifting means operable to engage with the belt adjacent said shaft for lifting the belt out of driving relationship therewith, and upon a subsequent operation to release said belt so as to re-engage the latter with said shaft, manually operable means positively connected with said belt shifting means for operating the same, said communication being provided with an upwardly facing normally closed converter port which is arranged between said shaft and agitator, a detachable converter coupling comprising a hollow air conducting member adapted to be inserted through said port, when open, and to be seated in said passageway, said member being shaped to fit said passageway and to cooperate with the walls thereof to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet, said coupling having provisions for accommodating said belt, said means for operating said belt shifting means being constructed and arranged to be positioned, when said belt shifting means is positioned so that said belt is arranged in driving relationship with said shaft, to form a barrier for said converter port to prevent at such time the insertion of said air I conducting member in said port.

'14. The combination with a suction cleaner having a suction nozzle, a motor-fan unit supported rearwardly of said nozzle, an agitator in said nozzle, a driving belt extending between said motor-fan unit and said agitator for normally driving the latter, means forming a suction air passage and a belt tunnel extending between said nozzle and said unit, said suction air passage including a readily detachable belt access cover member, of a belt drive disconnect comprising a drive disconnect assembly and a manually operable assembly for moving said disconnect between a position in which said belt drive is operable to drive said agitator and a second position in which said drive is inoperable to drive said agitator, one of said assemblies being permanently carried by said cleaner and the other of said assemblies being carried by and being readily removable with said belt access cover.

15. The combination with a suction cleaner having a suction nozzle, a motor-fan unit supported rearwardly thereof, an agitator in said nozzle, a driving belt extending between said motor-fan unit and said agitator to drive the latter during on-the-floor operation of said cleaner, means forming a combined suction air passage and belt tunnel between said nozzle and said motor-fan unit, of a belt drive disconnect for disconnecting said agitator from said motor-fan unit during ofi-the-fioor operation of said cleaner, a normally closed converter port opening into said suction air passage at a point between said agitator and said motor-fan unit, a converter tool insertable through said port and cooperating with the walls of said suction passage and said belt to substantially seal said nozzle from said motor-fan unit, said converter having an outlet opening positioned to one side of said belt whereby the oif-the-floor suction air stream flows to said motor-fan unit in a path not traversing said belt and located to one side thereof.

16. The combination with a suction cleaner having a suction nozzle, a motor-fan unit supported rearwardly thereof, an agitator in said nozzle, a driving belt extending between said motor-fan unit and said agitator to drive the latter during on-the-floor operation of said cleaner, means forming a combined suction air passage and belt tunnel between said nozzle and said motor-fan unit, of means mounted on said suction air passage for supporting the motor-fan unit end of said belt in a stationary, non-agitator driving position during off-the-floor operation of said cleaner, a normally closed converter receiving port opening into said suction air passage from the upper side thereof and at a point between said agitator and said motor-fan unit, a hollow converter tool adapted to be inserted through said port and being cooperable with the walls of said passage and the runs of said belt to substantially close off said nozzle from communication with said motor-fan unit during offthe-floor operation of said cleaner, and an outlet for said converter opening into said suction air passage to one side of said belt whereby the off-the-floor suction air stream flows to said motor-fan unit in a path which is unobstructed by said belt.

1'7. A suction cleaner as defined in claim 16 including manually operable means supported on said cleaner operable to shift said belt out of.

driving position with respect to said motor-fan unit and onto said belt supporting means wherein said belt is inoperative to drive said agitator, said manually operable means also being operable to return said belt from said belt supporting means back into agitator driving relation with respect to said motor-fan unit.

18. The combination with a suction cleaner having a main body, a suction nozzle at the forward end thereof, a vertical axis motor-fan unit on said body rearward of said nozzle, means forming a combined suction air passage and belt tunnel extending from said nozzle to the fan inlet of said motor-fan unit, a driving belt in said tunnel and extending between a driving pulley on said unit and said agitator to drive the latter during the on-the-fioor operation of said cleaner, a normally closed converter receiving passage opening through the top side of said suction air passage forwardly of said motor-fan unit, said converter passage being inclined clownwardly and rearwardly, means on said cleaner adjacent said pulley for supporting said belt in a stationary non-agitator driving position during oif-theJloor operation of said cleaner, one run of said belt being positioned close to one wall of said suction passage when the belt is positioned on said belt support, a converter tool adapted to be inserted through said converter passage and cooperable with said suction passage and said belt to close off said nozzle from said ian inlet when in place on said cleaner, and an outlet opening in said converter opening into said suction pas sage to one side of said belt whereby the oil-thefloor air flows to fan inlet in a path. which is unobstructed by belt.

19. A suction cleaner as defined in claim 18 in which the path of said converter tool upon insertion traverse at least one run of said belt whereby said run is contacted by the converter and deflected into a position against a wall of said suction air passage as said converter is inserted into said converter receiving passage, and means for locking said converte" in place in said last mentioned passage.

20. A floor type vacuum. cleaner comprising an electric motor having a vertical shaft, a ran chamber arranged below motor and having a fan connected to said shaft to be driven thereby, said chamber being provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof, a nozzle having a downwardly presented mouth, and an agitator operatively associated therewith, a communication forming an air passageway between said nozzle and said fan inlet for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle during operation of said fan, said shaft extending through said fan inlet into said communication, a belt arranged in driving relationship with said shaft and agitator for actuating the latter during operation of said fan and extending through said communication, belt disconnecting means operable to disconnect said belt from driving relationship with said motor and upon a subsequent operation to re-establish said belt drive to said agitator, said communication being provided with an upperwardly facing, normally closed converter receiving passage which is arranged between said shaft and agitator, a detachable converter coupling comprisin a hollow air conducting member adapted to be inserted into said passage, when open, and to be seated in said air passageway, said member being shaped to fit said air passageway and to cooperate with the walls thereof to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet, said coupling having provisions for accommodating said belt, a converter barrier for said converter receiving passage normally positioned to prevent insertion of said converter coupling, and a positive connection between said barrier and belt disconnecting means for operating the latter to disconnect said belt by movement of said barrier to a position in which said barrier does not interfere with the insertion of said converter coupling into said converter receiving passage.

21. A floor type vacuum cleaner as defined in claim 29 characterized in that the presence of converter coupling in said converter receiving passage blocks the return of said barrier to the normal position thereof barring insertion of said coupling and. thereby prevents re-establishing said agitator drive so long as said cleaner is converted to oii-the-floor cleaning operation.

22. A floor type vacuum cleaner comprising an electric motor having a vertical shaft, a fan chamber arranged below said motor and having a fan connected to said shaft to be driven thereby, said fan chamber being provided with an air inlet on the under side thereof, a nozzle having a downwardly presented mouth, and an agitator operatively associated therewith, a communication forming air passageway between said nozzle and. said fan inlet for inducing a flow of air into said nozzle during operation of said fan, said shaft extending through said fan inlet into said communication, a belt arranged in driving relationship with said shaft and agitator for actuating the latter during operation of said. fan and extending through said communication, belt shiftin means operable to engage with the belt adjacent said shaft for lifting the belt out of driving relationship therewith, and upon a subsequent operation to release said belt so as to re-engage the latter with said shaft, manually operable means positively connected with said belt shifting means for operating the same, said communication being provided with an upwardly facing normally closed converter port which is arranged between shaft and agitator, a detachable converter coupling comprising a hollow air conducting member adapted to be inserted through said port, when open, and to be seated in said passageway, said member being shaped to fit said passageway and to cooperate with the Walls thereof to prevent the flow of air from said nozzle to said fan inlet, said coupling having provisions for accommodating said belt, said means for operating said belt shifting means being constructed and arranged to form a barrier against the insertion of said converter coupling when said belt is in driving relationship with said shaft, said barrier normally extending into the path of said converter coupling and being blocked from returning thereto by said coupling when said coupling is in place in said port whereby said belt drive to said agitator cannot be re-established so long as said cleaner is converted to oiT-thc-fioor operation.

HARRY B. WHITE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,175,004 Snyder Oct. 3, 1939 2,366,481 Berg Jan. 2, 1945 2,416,786 White Mar. 4, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 438,622 Great Britain Nov. 20, 1935 

